'Hard to watch': For Black women, Ketanji Brown Jackson hearing feels all too familiar

[Demovictory9]

“This is just a master class in how Black women have to be patient — have to be fully composed in responding to things that are meant for destruction,” said Brown, chair of the women’s and gender studies program at Georgetown. “These are the kinds of attacks that Black women get in their professional roles.”

For weeks, Black women supporting Jackson’s nomination awaited her confirmation hearing with a mix of excitement and dread, eager to see history being made, but concerned her critics would play into racist and sexist tropes.


Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee seemed aware of that Monday, taking pains to insist in their opening statements that scrutinizing Jackson’s record was not the same as attacking the first Black woman ever picked for the high court.

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Referring to a children’s book that aims to teach young people about racism, Cruz asked Jackson whether she believes “babies are racist.”

A somber-faced Jackson paused for several seconds, exhaled deeply and appeared to reflect carefully before responding. It was a sigh that resonated with many viewers.

“The sigh. The pause. The double blink. The angle of the head. Volumes spoken before giving the answer,” tweeted Sherrilyn Ifill, a civil rights lawyer and former head of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. “We understand.”

https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2022-03-23/black-women-ketanji-brown-jackson-hearing

[hlthe2b]

1. Taking nothing from the obvious racism issue importance, arguably this is all too familiar to women

in general. If one has not noticed the serious increase in systematic misogyny-- that has accompanied the more extreme acceptability on the far RW of incel-type philosophies and hate groups, then you've had your head in the sand. Not a mere assertion.

It all comes together when race is added to the equation, but we can't ignore the compounding issues.

[yardwork]

13. It's definitely getting worse.

Trump's bad example created a permission state. I also think that the online world promotes and reinforces misogyny and racism. Too many corners of the internet where people - especially young people - spend a lot of time and don't get any push-back for saying outrageous things. Parts of the internet are a never-ending frat party.

[pnwmom]

22. I think what Hillary went through with the Benghazi hearings was similar

in the men's obvious contempt, and her efforts to be patient.

[yardwork]

23. Good comparison.

[PatSeg]

15. I was thinking the same thing

I remember the kinds of questions republicans asked male nominees and the contrast is striking, but sadly not surprising.

[gab13by13]

2. Don't watch the clown show,

she has the votes is all that matters.

[Native]

5. When I read before the hearing that McConnell had said she'd have the votes, I decided not to watch

As much as I wanted to experience this historic hearing, I also knew it would hijack my emotions for probably weeks on end. If I were in a stronger space, I'd have watched.

[Demovictory9]

19. they arent doing this to scuttle the nomination...it's for the benefit of their base

[Native]

20. Yes, I figured that was what they would do because, simply, that's the way they roll.

[malaise]

3. It is disgusting to watch

Plain old racism

[Bettie]

12. And misogyny

it's both in this case.

[CrispyQ]

16. It's the Daily Double for this group of low life repubs. -nt

[Evolve Dammit]

24. Agreed. I wanted to smack them.

[DemUnleashed]

4. Funny...

I find it funny (not ha ha funny) that Kavanaugh got away with all his antics during his hearing...the crying, the sniveling, the indignation, the anger etc

Yet KBJ must always be poised and elegant and soft spoken and it's still not good enough for these effin' assholes!!

And not to mention the credentials of Kavanaugh, Gorsuch, Barrett vs Brown Jackson and yet they still think she is not good enough!

[Joinfortmill]

9. Kav needs to go. He's an abomination to the Court. I hope to see him impeached.

[Evolve Dammit]

25. after Clarence is fine

[yardwork]

11. It's a good example of the double standard.

Women and people of color have to be composed, professional, well groomed (in ways that don't create discomfort for the white majority), well dressed, and they aren't allowed to show much emotion. They walk a tightrope.

White men can behave like complete fools - Kavanaugh, Trump, Lindsey Graham - and people fawn over them.

[Demovictory9]

21. Kavanaugh behavior by a woman "hysterical"

[Jetheels]

6. It was very sad to watch the Republican clowns asking ridiculous questions that were not even

meant for her to answer but rather for Fox News sound bites, not listening to the Judge, interrupting her,
and the chairman doing just about absolutely nothing. That this was allowed to continue over and over, the lack of any kind of oversight or control, truly pathetic what out government has become. No one is in charge.

[Lahru]

7. Republicans played too their voters

By attacking Ketanji Jackson Brown republicans gave their voters exactly what they wanted to see. That according to them no African American deserves to sit on the Supreme Court because they're too emotional, untrustworthy and lacking the intelligence for the job.

[Joinfortmill]

8. She's quite an impressive person isn't she? They, on the other hand, are assholes.

[dlk]

10. This has been hard to watch for any women

The Republicans have put their deep-seated mysogyny on full display for the world to see. They hate women and they’re very proud of it.

[liberalmuse]

14. I have the utmost contempt

For about half of our Congress. These childish, whiny, nasty, racist, sexist, disgraceful abominations need to be shot into space. They’re an embarrassment and an affront to the entire human race. I’m ashamed to be on the same planet as them. My disgust for the GOP extends beyond the known universe. Their displays of ignorance and mean spiritedness should be smacked down hard so it never gets back up.

[GB_RN]

17. This Was Hard For ME To Watch...

And I'm a white guy. To borrow the phrase from Senator Sasse, the "jackassery" that was on display from "Leningrad Lindsey" Graham (R-Fabulous!), Raphael "Ted" sCruz-ball (R-Batshit Crazy), "Tehran Tom" Cotton (R-Israel) and Josh "Hee-Haw" Hawley (R-Traitors) was just beyond the pale.

You expect grandstanding from Raphael, Tehran Tom and Hee-Hawley, because those three clowns are running for president in '24 (and have delusions that they'll actually BE president in '25). But Lindsey? He was the true drama queen, and what made Leningrad Lindsey so bad was that he had voted for Judge Jackson on each of her three prior appearances before the committee for her and for her eventual appointments, never once exhibiting his faux outrage. So, when I say drama queen, I mean it.

My gay friends would put another spin on using "drama queen" with respect to Lindsey, but that's another matter, and not the one I'm aiming at here.

[RobinA]

18. I Think It's Great

Buncha bullies making asses of themselves trying to get the girl upset and she just.keeps.coming. Calmly and with grace. A master class in how to handle imbeciles out to get you.